Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Melissa officinalis
-
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
8-11
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
-
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Yes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
Red Cardinal
In German
Lemonbalm
Red Cardinal
In French
mélisse
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Cárdenas
In Greek
Lemonbalm
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Red Cardinal
In Latin
CITRAGO
Cardinalis Rubrum
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Lamiaceae
Fabaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Faboideae
Importance of Lemonbalm and Red Cardinal
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemonbalm and Red Cardinal. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemonbalm and Red Cardinal as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Lemonbalm is Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia and Sedative whereas of Red Cardinal is Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative and Tonic. Lemonbalm has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems while Red Cardinal has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Lemonbalm vs Red Cardinal
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Lemonbalm vs Red Cardinal and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Lemonbalm are Avoid during Pregnancy and Skin irritation whereas of Red Cardinal have Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemonbalm has no showy fruits and Red Cardinal has showy fruits. Also Lemonbalm is not flowering and Red Cardinal is not flowering . You can compare Lemonbalm and Red Cardinal facts and facts of other plants too.